Becoming A Servant Leader
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Isaiah 6:1-8 - Here I am, send me!
If you stay around St. Andrew’s Church for very long, we assume that means you want to become the kind of Servant Leader our Lord talks about in Mark 10:41-45!
So, how do you become someone who is increasingly part of a “Christian Community that Proclaims, Enjoys, and Serves the Jesus Christ the Supreme Lord”?
Here’s the path we suggest for all who want to join us at St. Andrew’s. Obviously it’s tailored to our unique setting – our location and our theology. But here, “membership” is just the start… it’s not the end!
1. Become a worshipper!
To be a “Christian” means we have become someone who worships the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).
The Lord’s Day worship at St. Andrew’s Church is designed to continually focus on Jesus Christ and what it means to repent our our sins, confess His Lordship, and spiritually commune with Him. There’s literally no other place to start! But the Christian life does not end there. In being united with Jesus Christ, baptized into His Body, and communing with Him regularly, we become united with His People. Together our worship should aim to create nothing less than a Christian Community that some people have described as a Colony of Heaven!
From our worship, everything else flows freely…
2. Become a Servant!
Whether you serve alone to meet a need, serve with our men’s group or women’s fellowship, or with one of the ministries connected to Mission Lawrence, Jesus says that the one who would be great among His people must be a servant (Matthew 20:25-27). As we mature in Christ, we should aim to serve both inside and outside the church on a regular basis.
3. Become a Disciple!
It’s important for the mature Christian to know their own soul and its deceitfulness and also to know the Word of God. Here’s where to start -
A. Daily Prayer and Bible Reading, including
B. Participating with other Christians in Bible study
C. Complete a “12 Step Study” to know your soul
D. Complete a “Catechism Certificate” to know the “Big Picture” of God’s Word
E. Work with our Pastor to help other students engage in these studies!
4. Become a Steward
To be a steward means to get your own financial house in order. That’s easier said than done these days, but we will work to encourage one another in this area. All of us should use debt responsibly and not be held in slavery by financial turmoil. Part of being a steward means giving faithfully to your local congregation as God prospers you. In return our church will be a good steward of the funds you give.
But there is more to “stewardship” of our lives than simply the financial aspect. If being out of debt were the measure of stewardship, Scrooge would have been a good “steward” instead of a moral failure who needed to be transformed!
We encourage men to pursue faithfulness using the character attributes of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 as their guide. Likewise, we encourage women to consider Proverbs 31:10-31 in their pursuit of faithful stewardship.
5. Become Fervent in Prayer
We do far too much without ever asking God’s help or seeking God’s wisdom. We proceed in our own strength and wonder why we fail. Prayerfulness begins with our daily time of prayer before the Lord and extends as we pray for those around us (as discussed at “Pray For Your Block”) so that the Lord will go before us as we seek to serve Lawrence County TN (and beyond) in Christ’s Name.
6. Become a Messenger of Hope!
When Jesus Christ claims us for His Own, He sets us free to serve Him! We become “Messengers of Hope” who introduce others to His grace!
It’s 0ne thing to make a public profession of faith as an adult to join the church. It’s another thing to make this a lifestyle of spreading the joyful hope of Jesus’ Lordship! Some call this “Gossiping the Gospel”, but whatever you call it, it’s ultimately pointing beyond ourselves and to Jesus Christ the Lord and His Wonders to set free a world addicted to the “Sewers of the Self”!
We’re looking for “Messengers of Hope” to lead in both Christianity Explored and 12 Step Studies.
7. Pursue Your Calling!
All God’s people have holy callings in their roles as men and women, husbands/fathers, wives/mothers, parents and children, citizens of the state, and business owners or employees. Some have special callings within the Church as well.
Do you have a special calling for service upon your life? If so, others will soon know it.
We pray God will raise up men to be trained for the ministry of Word and Holy Communion to go out from here as church planters.
Men and women called to specialized ministries of service in the church and community may be called to pursue the diaconate. This calling requires not only exceptional faithfulness in the ways outlined above, but also training in the Scriptures and theology and training specific for the specific diaconal calling (teacher, parish nurse, prison ministry, and so on).
(You may also want to read the article “Making Disciples at St. Andrew’s Church”)
